About the Thompsons

portrait of ellen and bob thompson

Robert (Bob) and Ellen Thompson truly believe in the power of education, commitment to a cause, and hard work. The couple have been together since college - following Bob’s service as a pilot in the United States Air Force, they embarked on both a personal and entrepreneurial journey. Along with starting a family, they founded and grew several businesses. In 1959, they entered the asphalt paving business, as Ellen continued her teaching career.

Thompson-McCully Co. grew to become Michigan's largest asphalt paving company. In 1999, 40 years after its inception, the Thompsons sold their business, sharing the proceeds of the sale with employees and forming the Thompson Foundation.

The mission of the foundation is to increase access to educational opportunities for students from working class families; Bob and Ellen both believe education changes lives. At the heart of their support is the couple’s respect for the workers employed in their asphalt and concrete businesses. Ellen Thompson has said that their relationship with the employees at their companies sparked a commitment to helping working families.

“I see how long and hard some people work, and the dreams they have for their children,” Ellen says. “We’ve been fortunate and want to help students realize those dreams.”

The Working Families Scholarship (WFS), funded by the Thompson Foundation, is a program that exists at four institutions, including Michigan Tech. WFS is aimed at helping students who come from families who work hard, but struggle to fund the cost of college. We are proud to be the home of the Rollin A. Jones and James E. Lindstrom Working Families Scholarship program - so named on our campus in honor of two former VP-level Thompson-McCully employees who graduated from Michigan Tech. The scholarship launched at Michigan Tech in 2020. Through a little extra support and a lot of hard work (or, as Jim Lindstrom likes to say, “putting the nose to the grindstone”) we are excited to watch the scholars of today become the engineers, scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, educators, and leaders of tomorrow.

Michigan Tech’s students who engage in the program are asked to meet criteria that are aligned with the Thompson Foundation’s values. They must meet certain academic requirements, meet with advisors and student success staff, and are required to give back through community service.

Bob Thompson has a message for students:

You can do things to help others, one-on-one, and make it happen. You're almost obligated by me to do that. Do what you can and someday I hope you'll look back and say, 'This changed my life.'